VISIT ICELAND IN WINTER
Are You Crazy?

Tell your friends you’re thinking of visiting Iceland in winter and they’ll think you’ve lost it. ICE-land? In the winter? They’ll back slowly away and size you up for a straight jacket. But you’ll keep your cool, knowing they’re the ones who are crazy to dismiss the idea.

There are a thousand great reasons to come to Iceland at any time of the year, especially January through March. For one thing, Reykjavik normally enjoys only one completely clear day every July. In January, the average goes up to three, although there are no reports just yet of sunglass shortages.

Other highlights of a typical winter visit:

• We’ll Leave the Lights on For You – Winter is the best time to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, and there are tours catering to those who hope to view this gorgeous celestial display flickering in the starry sky (www.auroratours.com). The cozy 32-room Northern Light Inn, 30-minutes from the capital city of Reykjavik, is the perfect location to view the aurora. It offers low winter rates and shuttles to the nearby Blue Lagoon (www.northernlightinn.is).

• Someone Left the Water Running – Waterfalls don’t exactly switch off for the season. They’re still running strong, including Gullfoss, the Niagara Falls of Iceland (but without the silly boat ride or people trying to ride in barrels). In winter, the falls are etched in beautiful ice formations. At the top is a café that sells the best lamb stew known to mankind.

• Steamy Winter Fun – Nature’s hot tubs are best experienced with the delicious contrast of cold air and hot, cozy water. The city of Reykjavik operates seven thermal pools, all with changing rooms, lockers, showers, even wading pools for children (www.spacity.is). The biggest thermal pool of them all, the Blue Lagoon (bluelagoon.com), is the country’s most popular destination. You can get married there with your face smeared in white mud, attend rock concerts, have a business conference, eat fresh local gourmet cuisine, or just chillax.

• Cooler than Cool – Ten percent of the country is covered in glaciers, including both the largest glacier in Europe, and the only glaciers that sit atop volcanoes. The best time to visit is from mid-February to mid-July when the surface is more stable. Guides can also arrange cross-country ski trips, or for speed freaks, drive-it-yourself snowmobile tours. (www.mountainguides.is)

• Travel Viking Style – Alas, we don’t mean by longboat: there are guided horseback riding excursions all winter (see “They Said It” below). Visitors are provided insulated overalls, waterproof boots, helmets, and gloves to resist cold, and the native Icelandic horses, descendants of those imported by the first Viking settlers, are renowned for their docility. (www.ishestar.is)

• Bring an Appetite – News about the closing of McDonald’s went viral this fall, so don’t come expecting a McMuffin for breakfast (a McPuffin, maybe, but no Big Macs). Frankly, it’s puzzling why anyone would want manufactured fast food while surrounded by free-range sheep roaming the open countryside feeding on wild berries and moss; waters teeming with fresh cod; vegetables and herbs from geothermally-heated greenhouses; and dairy products such as the yogurt-like skyr, a big seller at Whole Foods in the U.S. Iceland has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic gastronomic destinations – Icelandic chefs train abroad then come home to experiment with different ways of cooking traditional Icelandic ingredients.

• Thrills for the Eyes and Ears – The Iceland cultural scene in Reykjavik is one of the most avant-garde in the world. Stay indoors and see the Reykjavik Art Museum (see below; www.artmuseum.is), or check the listings and catch a jazz performance or perhaps the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.(www.musik.is)

• PartyPartyParty – Become enthralled by the legendary Reykjavik club scene and party until the sun doesn’t come up. Icelandic clubs tend to be bistros during the day and change into a wilder character at night, like the popular Vegamot (www.vegamot.is), NASA (www.nasa.is), and Kaffibarinn (www.kaffibarinn.is) where you can drink a golden lager named Viking beer. Want to dance with someone? Ask like a Viking: “viltu dansa?” If the answer is “ja” (yes), congratulations. Want to have a deeper conversation than that? See our YouTube link below.

Here are two comprehensive on-line resources to find out more about the night scene: www.infoiceland.is or www.visitreykjavik.is. Remember to dress warmly. While Iceland is kissed by the relatively warm waters of the Gulf Stream and is generally more comfortable than the Northeast U.S. in winter, there’s still a lot more weather up there to contend with.

HURTIGRUTEN CRUISES VIKING LANDS IN LUXURY

Hurtigruten invites you aboard the MS Fram to explore the oceans sailed by the Vikings and the lands in which they settled. Iceland and Greenland are both on the itineraries of several voyages which will take you above and below the Arctic Circle to see wild lands and seascapes, amazing indigenous creatures, and even give you the chance to get your feet on the ground for some exploring of your own.

Choose between four 11- though 14-day cruises at special rates only available until Dec. 31. Our favorite is the two-week “Wake Of The Vikings” trip, taking travelers from Reykjavik, to Greenland and ending in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the first Europeans actually landed in North America.

Routes and details can be found at http://www.hurtigruten.us/iceland-cruise.asp For more information call 866 865 0313 or visit www.hurtigruten.us.

Tags: boat, food, glacier, tours, volcanoe

TOUR THE WINTER BACKCOUNTRY ON FOOT OR BY SUPER JEEP

Icelandic Mountain Guides (IMG) is one of Iceland’s premier local guide services, and can take you to any one of thousands of Iceland’s natural wonders. Go hiking, ice climbing, mountaineering, horseback riding or, for a safari Iceland style, go in one of the country’s famed Super Jeeps.

Iceland Rovers is the branch of IMG that runs Super Jeep excursions – where travelers ride in burly, jacked-up, all-terrain trucks across some of the most awe-inspiring country anyone could hope to experience. Vacation packages include trips to and through volcanic craters, lava caves, glaciers, the site of the world’s first parliament, waterfalls – you get the picture. They even depart right from Reykjavik, and can drop you off at the Blue Lagoon Spa if you so choose.

Log onto icelandrovers.is to see how you too can roll out into the wild.

For those who like to keep their transportation self-powered, IMG offers a host of boots-on-the-ground excursions in keeping with their motto: Adventure For All. From easy glacier hikes of a few hours, to multi-day, multi-faceted, and much more challenging tours, they all provide a powerful and direct connection to the unspoiled beauty of Iceland.

The guides can provide equipment, and private guiding is available along with group trips. Log onto mountainguides.is to get your adventure started today.

Tags:Airwaves, food, restaurant

INSIDER’S GUIDE TO ART – IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE OUTDOORS

Icelanders take great pride in the natural beauty of their island nation, but there is plenty to be seen indoors as well, particularly at the Reykjavik Art Museum – actually a consortium of three different museums located throughout the city: Hafnarhus, Kjarvalsstadir, and Asmundarsafn. The three locations all have their own flavor and their own specialties in order to make the best in Icelandic art available to culture-seekers.

Kjarvalsstadir’s claim to fame is a permanent exhibition of paintings by beloved Icelandic painter Johannes Kjarval. The museum also focuses on modern design and architecture. Now (through January 31) the Kjarvalsstadir will showcase the works of designer Steinunn Sigurdardottir (see below), and the stunning photographs of Mary Ellen Mark.

(For more information: http://www.artmuseum.is/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-2173/3432_read-6298)

Tags: festival, film, Iceland Naturally, New York

Sisters Steinunn Sigurdardottir and Unnur Edda Gardarsdóttir opened a store on Laugavegur 66 in 101 Reykjavík recently for their fashion label Emami. The label started with one multi-use dress in 2007, but has since grown to a complete line sold in 130 stores in 26 countries.

This fall, Emami released its first collection. “Based on the Emami-dress we started designing our own collection [...], clothing that can be changed in many ways so from one piece of clothing you can have up to 20 different styles,” Steinunn said.

Unnur adds, “Because we travel so much it is good just to have one piece of clothing that you can use in many ways and thus reduce the volume of the luggage. Modern girls are always on the go but still want to look stylish.”

The goal is to release two collections per year and the next one will hit the stores in April or May 2010. The current collection along with videos on how to change the clothing items can be seen on the fashion label’s Web site, www.emami.dk.

In a related story, Sigurdardottir was recently named Reykjavík's Artist of the Year – an honorary acknowledgement for a Reykjavík-based artist who has had a great impact on the Icelandic art scene. After studying in Paris, Steinunn graduated from the New York Parsons School of Design in 1986. She has had a long and successful career in fashion design, was head designer at Gucci, Calvin Klein and La Perla and has worked with numerous other well-known designers.

Tags: Iceland Naturally

It is no secret that preserving and celebrating the Icelandic language is something very near and dear to the hearts of most Icelanders. That’s why we were thrilled to find a series of free Icelandic lessons on YouTube. Sure, we all talk English over here, but isn’t learning a new language part of the fun of traveling? Receive some simple language tips from our friend Natalja, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxzhWkMD3co

Tags: Christmas, food, Reykjavik

THEY SAID IT

“Reykjavik is magical. I have heard people say this over the years, but until I actually experienced it, I couldn’t have believed it. Forget Bjork and prepare yourself by listening to Sigur Ros. As the music implies, a visit to Iceland is like going to the moon, only instead of little green men it is entirely populated by gorgeous blondes.”

– Jolie Hunt, The Daily Beast, Nov. 13, 2009
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-13/gal-with-a-suitcase/

“The collapse of three Icelandic banks in October 2008 meant cranes across the country came to a halt. A broken economy has led to rock-bottom rents. And while the new lows may have hit local landlords hard, it enabled a kind of tenant once prohibited from the high-traffic destination to move in — emerging fashion designers. ‘Creativity doesn't stop when the money goes,’ says Runar Omarsson, co-owner of Nikita, a street-wear line that caters mainly to skate- and snowboarders.”

– Maarisa Mazria Katz, Time Magazine, Nov. 14, 2009
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1938538,00.html#ixzz0XR9bHpOJ

“Iceland, a remote North Atlantic nation of volcanoes and glaciers midway between the United States and the European continent, has long been a temptingly exotic destination of milky-blue geothermal lakes, stunning fjords and waterfalls and tales of Vikings and elves. Sadly, it's also been way too expensive for most people.

“No more. The collapse of the island's overextended banks in October brought on a full-blown recession, and airfares and hotel rates have plunged by half. Round-trip airfares to Reykjavik from the United States now start at less than $500, and package deals, including stays at some of the island's best hotels, are proliferating.

“Perhaps the biggest lure of Iceland is the chance to do something you almost surely have never done before, from dining on grilled minke whale or smoked puffin to snowmobiling across a glacier or buying designer jewelry made from lava.

“At the Ishestar Riding Center, just a short drive outside the capital, guides will bundle you in an oversize green insulated thermal suit and plonk you on one of the island's hairy Icelandic ponies. Then it's off through the black volcanic rock landscape, with pauses to peer into caves, cup handfuls of water to drink from the region's pure icy streams and throw off the saddles to watch the steaming ponies roll comically in the snow.”

– Laurie Goering, Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 2009

Tags:aurora borealis, budget, restaurant, shopping, value

TRAVEL DEALS OF THE MONTH

Here’s how to experience Iceland without breaking the bank.

Golden Circle tour from $499*

Guests traveling from Seattle have a special, extended offer: the Golden Circle Tour package is now available through the month of March. Air, hotel, and the famous Golden Circle tour are all included in this budget package.

Start by visiting Nesjavellir, a powerful geothermal area in the scenic landscape of Lake Þingvallavatn. Here is where the city of Reykjavik gets much of its unique geothermal energy for heat, hot water and power. Next, visit Thingvellir National Park, where the Icelandic parliament was founded in the year 930 A.D. Continue to the beautiful Gullfoss, considered by some to be the loveliest waterfall in Iceland. The journey continues to the spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur, and returns you to your hotel early that evening.

For more information click here.

Glaciers, Geysers, and Waterfalls

Icelandair has announced a special offer with a guaranteed February 9, 2010 departure, one that includes a free welcome breakfast on arrival day at the famous, friendly Icelandair Hotel Loftleidir, plus guaranteed early check-in from 9 a.m. (which helps after flying all night). Taking the tour in winter even adds the possibility of seeing the northern lights, although that’s one thing we can never guarantee. This tour is also great value since it includes air, Flybus transfers, guided tour and breakfast/dinner on most days. The winter version uses specially comfort-equipped Land Rovers, so there is a sense of old fashioned adventure and a small group size.

For more information click here.

$469 Budget Getaway Continues From the Northeast

The best deal that has ever been offered to Iceland just got better: travelers from New York or Boston can take advantage of the spectacular $469 Budget Getaway deal through February 2010. Enjoy shopping, delicious gourmet Icelandic cuisine, invigorating outdoor adventure, highland wilderness beauty, soothing spas and more. Your accommodation is at the friendly Fosshotel Lind or Fosshotel Baron. Both are situated in the historic city center and offer three star amenities, and make an ideal base for exploring Southern Iceland. Click here for more info.

Tags:Christmas, spa, tours, Travel Deals, value

*Prices quoted are exclusive of applicable taxes and official charges by destination of approximately $100-$270, per person including the Sept. 11th Security Fee.

Season’s Greetings from the Iceland Tourist Board to you and yours! We’ll be in Iceland. We hope your holidays are just as grand.

Foward to a friend

For information on other exciting activities in Iceland, be sure to visit:

If you wish to unsubscribe click here.